Amid the ongoing fight against COVID-19, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has emphasized that taking on the epidemic is like being a fight against an enemy, with more drastic measures necessary, including intensifying immigration control and keeping a minimum of two metres apart when in public.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

The statement came on March 27 following PM Phuc issuing a Government Directive regarding the strict implementation of epidemic prevention measures in which the government leader said that for the remainder of the month, COVID-19 prevention and control measures will continue to be widely implemented. This will involve the active participation of the entire political system, agencies, sectors, and the wider population.

Due to drastic measure already being taken, the epidemic has been partly brought under control, earning the nation many international plaudits whilst building trust among the public for the leadership of both the Party and the State.

Despite initial success in fighting the COVID-19, the situation globally remains both complicated and unpredictable, with the sharp increase in the number of infected cases and deaths, showing no sign of halting.

Nationally, the number of COVID-19 cases had previously stood at 16 in February. However, during a 20- day period from March 6 to March 26 the number has risen by 137 across 23 provinces and cities, bringing the total number of cases to 153.

“There has been a contagion among health workers, which has spread among the community, especially in some major cities, causing public concern. Vietnam has entered a critical phase in the COVID-19 fight,” the cabinet leader noted.

As a means of effectively controlling the widespread nature of the disease’s transmission to protect people’s health, PM Phuc has called on all citizens to uphold the spirit of "Fighting the epidemic like fighting an enemy", accept economic losses for the fight against the epidemic, consider protecting people's health as the ultimate goal.

All people must come together to show great determination whilst making every effort to implement solutions and tasks to prevent the spread of the epidemic under the direction of the political bureau, the central party secretariat, and the government.

It is therefore vital to strengthen discipline, remain vigilant, and accelerate the implementation of measures so the infection can be detected early in order to conduct isolation and zoning plans in a timely manner, PM Phuc added.